Callers: Eliminate Punch-card Voting

Sentinel Soundoff - Other Views

A majority of callers responded with a "yes" to this week's Sound Off's question, "Should Florida spend $40 million to $50 million to eliminate punch-card voting?"

However, it was a yes-but kind of situation. Comments by some callers indicate that, with exceptions, there is less disagreement between the two sides than the mere numbers may indicate.

As for those numbers, 1,348 people voted yes, and 468 voted no, from early Sunday until noon Monday.

Thomas Barton, 76, of Longwood said, for example, "I think we should, in order to avoid criticism from the rest of the country, but I also think it's ridiculous. It wasn't the machines that fouled up but the voters. Furthermore, I'm sure the same thing happened all over the country."

Chuluota resident John Whitman, 54, said it would be necessary to spend the money "until the voters get smarter, or we'll have the same kind of chaos we had this time at the next election."

Mitch Guest, 74, of Orlando said, "If we spend the money, we will never have the upheaval, confusion and bitterness that we had with this election."

Kathy Andrews, 51, of Winter Springs said the whole system should be reviewed "to keep sleazy politicians from exploiting any weaknesses the system might have. What happened this time was almost catastrophic."

John Thomas, 53, of Orlando asked, "How can we not make the changes? And if this doesn't happen, then we'll have some groups using that to try to manipulate the results after the fact."

Peter Baker, 61, of Orlando said, "Of course we should spend the money. We can turn a problem into an advantage by showing everyone that Florida is now a high-tech state."

Typical of those callers who voted "no'' was Harold Stuart, 80, of Orlando, "Absolutely not," he said. "If people are so ignorant that they can't fill out a voting form, they shouldn't be allowed to vote."

Sanford resident Franklin Thomas, 79, wanted to know, "Why spend all this money to change the voting system for people who don't know how to read directions? Send them to school!''

Sixty-two-year-old Lee Wilson of Orlando was clearly unhappy with the results of the presidential election. "I think we should do away with all the cards and let the Supreme Court decide every election," she said sarcastically.

Norman Whitman, 75, of Deltona said, "I don't think we need to think about new machines. The horse is already out of the barn. But I think from now on that Democrats will be very, very careful when they go to the polls no matter what kind of machines are used."

Finally, Steve Martin, 50, of Winter Park, objected to the estimated cost of $40 million to $50 million included in the question. "You have got o be kidding. There is no reason on Earth to spend that kind of money. I can't imagine a marker system costing anywhere near that much money. That's just ridiculous."